The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1887-06-15

the ageny which lasted until a late hour
tonight. tho tribe unanimously agreed to
graat tl.e right Of way through the reser
walton to the Rocky Forks & Cooke City
Railway. Mr.. Walter Cooper, of Boze-
man, treasurer, represented the company
and made such a fair showing that the
Indians cordially agreed to his PROPOSE
tion. There were interpreters engaged
to represent both interests and it was
not possible to take any undue advant-
age of the Indians. 1t was the desire of
the company that this imputation should
not be laid against them, SO Mr.. Cooper
took the p%recautlon to have both sides re.
presented. A commission will now be
appointed to assess the damages, and
whatever the amount may be fixed as the
amount due the Indians will be promptly
paid by the company. In the meantime
every arrangement possible liz being made
to push construction work on the new
line.
II v HAVE BEE MADE
and material has been ordered and men
engaged, so that the territory shall have
the benefit of cheaper and an abundant
supply of fuel this winter. 1t is believed
that the forty-five miles of branch from
Laurel. twelve miles west Of Billings,
can be built before snow falls. To that
end every energy of the company is be-
ing bent. The company has ample capl.
tai, and it was a marvel to our citizens
how they secured the right of way from
congress in the closing hours when there
was such a volume oflegislation pending.
1t is a purely Montana scheme, and our
citizens here are in hearty unanimity
with the project, and as appears by reso-
lutions are doing all they can to promote
it. 1t means cheap coal for the citizens
of Billings, and does not mean a rival
town at Laurel, as some of our people be-
lieved at first would be the case. The
only town that will be doomed on the
proposed new line will be at the mines,
where a large force of men are already
employed, and where a very comfortable
camp has been established"
The Billings Gazette; which is also
deeply interested iii the building of this
important railroad adds the following &C.
count of the treaty:
"Hon. Walter Cooper of Bohemian, pass.
ed west this morning returning from the
meeting which was held at the agency
Saturday. 1t will be remembered that
President Cleveland desired the chiefs
and prominent Grow Indians to ratify
the bill granting the right of way to the
Rocky Fork & Cooke City railway,
through their reservation, which was
granted last winter by congress.
The Indians were therefore ordered to
meet at the agency Saturday. 1t being
ration day, and fearing a few chiefs might
not get there until Monday (which would
be to day. they hardly thought the coun-
Gil with the Indians would come off be.
fore Monday. However, nearly all did
reach there in time.
Mr.. Cooper learning that the other
officers ofthe road could not reach there
on count of high water and for other
reasons, thought best to proceed at once
There were in attendance over GOO chiefs
and leading Indians, All seemed to have
their minds already made up to sign the
papers granting the right of way, which
they did without a dissenting voice
and without raising a question in oppo-
sion to it. After all had signed, one old
chief arrived and when told what was
done, he wanted to sign it also, and was
allowed to do 30. The council was very
satisfactory to all concerned. The willing
ness of the Crows to sign goes far to show
that they are becoming more and more
civilized, and would without a doubt, if
approached in the proper manner, and a
fair adjustment made as to their large
tract of land, also consent to give up a
large portion of their reservation for set
Element. This idea that the Indians
have no mind of their own, is wrong, for
they know what they need and can see it
as soon as many of the whites. The
result of this council is a subject for great
rejoicing by the citizens of Billings and
the promoters of the Rocky Fork &
Cooke City Railroad. There is not any
thing now to prevent the road from be-
ing pushed to completion as fast as pos
sible. Of course there are always delays
which will arise. A great many do not
realize the work of building a railroad,
The grading and laying rails is only a
small part of the real work. When all
plans are ready and not until then can
the outward world see any progress. The
building ofthis road will greatly strene-
then real estate and cause our city to
| BOOM"